Tesla challenges the EU through her Chinese subsidiary for European import rates that electric cars produced in China. Last week, Chinese car producers such as Geely, BYD and SAIC already brought their case to the European Court of Justice. The German car manufacturer BMW has also joined the case through a Chinese subsidiary.
Last year, the European Union set trading rates against Chinese cars, which, supported by enormous government investments, were winning the competition with electric cars produced in Europe. Tesla Model 3 of their electric cars from China to the EU is currently importing. The EU then set an import tax of 7.8 percent – on top of a standard tax of 10 percent. Rates for BYD (17 percent) and Said (35.3 percent) are much higher. Directors of Tesla, which has also been producing in Germany since 2022, are considering further steps in response to European import duties according to the Financial Times.
EU is “ready”
Last week the European Commission already responded to the case. “We are ready,” said a spokesperson. “We are a rules -based club here in the EU. If they want to drag us to court, they must do that. ” The lawsuit at the Court of Justice can take up to a year and a half.
Tesla boss Elon Musk is a pronounced opponent of the European regulation of the tech industry. He was previously in conflict with competition commissioners about his company X, which, according to Brussels, violates the Digital Services Act (DSA). This weekend he showed himself at an election meeting of the extreme right-wing AfD. (NRC)